Golf in Abruzzo – A Round at Miglianico

“Our scores,” remarked my friend Paul as he wrapped-up a 2-and-1 victory at Miglianico last week, “were not impressive.” Massive understatement. But the company was good, the weather was hot and the beer was cold. Welcome to golf in Abruzzo…

Miglianico Golf Club, (or Miglianico Golf and Country Club, to give its full title), is one of only two 18-hole courses where you can play golf in Abruzzo. (The other’s at San Donato near L’Aquila.)

The course, a little south of Pescara, about 5kms from the coast and with some wonderful views, is an easy 50 minute drive from your Abruzzo villas for two.

The course, designed by the American Ronald Kirby and the first ever constructed in Abruzzo, is a par-72, measuring 5820 metres/6365 yards off the yellow tees, with water in play on 6 of the holes. You don’t need to hit the ball long; but you do need to hit it straight !

Aside from the course, Miglianico Golf Club also has a club house and locker room; driving range and putting green; a swimming pool; a pro-shop and a large bar and restaurant. The course complex itself is a holiday-style development, with residential properties set-back from the fairways on half-a-dozen or so holes.

More Info Please !

Miglianico Golf Club is open 0830-1800, Tuesday-Sunday except July and August, when it’s open 0830-2000 every day.

Green fees in July and August are €35 weekdays/€45 weekends and public holidays; at other times, it’ll cost you €30 and €40 respectively.

You can hire trolleys, buggies and even golf clubs – €10 for a steel-shafted set and €20 for graphite. You should pre-book these.

You don’t need an official golf handicap to play. But you will need your own golf shoes. You can’t hire these – and they’re mandatory wear on the course.

Miglianico hosts a number of club, regional and national golf competitions throughout the year. These are usually played on a Sunday when the course will be closed to visitors. On any day in July and August, and at weekends throughout the rest of the year, it’s advisable to book a tee-time.

At times during 2008, the back-9 holes at Miglianico are being extensively reworked in preparation for the 2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara at which golf’s one of the feature sports. This’ll make the course longer – and tougher !

The downside to this course improvement is that there’ll be times – and right now is one of them – when the course will either be completely closed for a brief period, or when play will only be possible on the front-9.

There’ll be additional work on the course early next year in preparation for those 2009 Mediterranean Games, while the course will be closed while they’re actually in progress from June 26-July 5. Spectators will be more than welcome on the course during the Games competition. After July 5, it should be back to business as usual !

Miglianico’s Golf Club’s own website will tell you much more about your upcoming golf in Abruzzo experience – and if you’re staying in one of our Abruzzo villas for two, we’ll be happy to book a tee-time for you.